Rolls-Royce has chosen Australian engineering company Marand as their preferred industry partner for the MT30 gas turbine enclosure manufacture and integration following a thorough evaluation and selection process.

The specialised integrated gas turbine enclosure is a highly complex engineering solution that provides the mechanical support, noise suppression, controls, air intake, exhaust outlet, ventilation and auxiliary supplies necessary to ensure optimal performance for the world’s most modern and power-dense marine gas turbine.

Rohan Stocker, CEO, Marand, said: “We are thrilled to be chosen by Rolls-Royce as their partner for the MT30 enclosure design development, manufacture and integration. The significant evaluation process and ultimate selection is a reflection of our world class team, engineering and manufacturing capabilities that have proven performance working in global supply chains.

“Completing the design development and manufacture here locally in Australia helps build the skills and future sovereign industrial capability required to support these critical propulsion system elements. We look forward to working with Rolls-Royce.”

BAE Systems won the tender for the SEA 5000 program, offering the Global Combat Ship – Australia (GCS-A), a local variant of its Type 26 Global Combat Ship design, being built at BAE Systems in Glasgow, for the UK Royal Navy.

Rob Madders, General Manager, Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Australia & New Zealand, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Marand is our preferred industry partner for the manufacture of the integrated MT30 gas turbine enclosure. It fulfils an important milestone in our ambitious Australian Industry Capability strategy by securing a local supply chain for both the manufacture and sustainment of the enclosure including the transfer of highly specialised engineering skills and knowledge.

“As the latest member of our Global Supply Chain, Marand becomes an integral part of our rapidly growing MT30 market providing future export opportunities on world-wide naval programs. The MT30’s clear advantages have made it the turbine of choice for the latest Allied warships, including the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class guided-missile destoyers and Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, Italy’s Landing Helicopter Dock and South Korea’s Daegu Class frigates, as well as the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigate. The MT30 will continue to replace aging turbine designs and we fully expect to add to the MT30’s family of warships in the very near future.

“For Type 26 the MT30 is rated to 36MW at 38°C ambient, this power, unrestricted by global climate conditions and combined with minimal maintenance makes it the perfect choice for GCS-A”.

“The combination of Marand’s impressive engineering pedigree and the capabilities of the MT30, will give BAE Systems GCS-A world-leading capability now and into the future and we look forward to working with them on this exciting opportunity”.

Further opportunities for Australian industry partners feature heavily in the Rolls-Royce offering for SEA 5000, explains Madders: “Now we have Marand on board, we’re expecting to confirm other Australian industry partners to join our Global Supply Chain.” further developing Australia’s Sovereign industrial capability priorities set out in their continuous ship building and Defence strategies.

The company will be announcing further preferred industry partners for the manufacture and delivery of its products in the coming weeks; these will include propellers, the ship-to-ship refuelling at sea equipment, the Mission Bay Handling System, steering gear and stabilisation systems.